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When I held my daughter for the first time after she was born, I knew that it was my responsibility to raise her to be strong and fearless.
She may be only 18 months old now, but she is already so independent. And as her mother, I owe it to her to always empower and support her throughout her life as she pursues her dreams.
International Women’s Day honors the historic accomplishments of women worldwide, challenging others to join in the fight for equality and #PressforProgress. As parents, we can make a difference by encouraging our daughters to be bold so they, too, can be trailblazers one day.
Here are some ways to empower our daughters:
Support their goals
Set aside time to talk with your daughter and ask about her goals and hopes for the future. Discuss a plan to make her dreams a reality, and show her the work it will take to achieve them, letting her know all she is capable of accomplishing.
Dreams change, so it’s important to have this conversation many times throughout her life.
My parents did this in various ways, from buying me art books when I was kid after telling them I wanted to be a children’s book illustrator, to proudly sharing the articles I write to this day with friends and family. No matter what aspirations I had for my life, my parents were always there to support me, and I’m all the better for it. I will do the same for my daughter.
So if your daughter wants to be a ballerina, dance with her. If she wants to be an engineer, build things with her. And if she wants to be president, practice her campaign speech with her.
Your support serves as a reminder to her that she can do it, as she overcomes every obstacle life throws in her way.
Teach them about the historic accomplishments of women
Tell her about the achievements of prominent women in history—from Susan B. Anthony fighting for women’s voting rights and Amelia Earhart becoming the first female pilot to fly across the Atlantic Ocean to the stories of civil rights activist Rosa Parks and Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic female astronaut to go to space.
Show her women accomplishing great things in a variety of outlets, whether that be in government, sports, science, performing arts, law, or whatever peaks her interest.
This will show her women are able to do anything they set their minds to with determination and perseverance. It will inspire your daughter on her journey to success in her own dreams.
Celebrate their achievements
Be present to celebrate your daughter’s achievements. Be there to congratulate her when she wins first place in her science fair, to cheer her on as she scores a goal at her soccer game or to give her a standing ovation as she takes a bow after performing in her school musical.
Every single thing she accomplishes is a victory on her path toward success. Your presence will help her realize that what she does matters. It will empower her to do great things in life.
